A FIRE service worker has been sacked after allegedly calling a pregnant woman a “retard” after she got stuck in floodwater with a toddler.

Sherry Doran, 33, and her one-year-old child had to be rescued after her car stalled in four feet of water at Buttsbury Wash, in Mountnessing, at about 7pm on Sunday.

The worker, employed by Essex Fire and Rescue Service through an agency, later launched a vile Facebook rant about the incident.

The service today confirmed it had sacked the man following his comments.

A spokesman said: “The use of derogatory language against members of our public is something we will not tolerate.”

Ms Doran, who had been visiting family in Billericay and was returning home to Suffolk using her sat nav when she became trapped, responded angrily to the post, She said: “Perhaps us retards don’t know the area. I certainly wouldn’t have knowingly put my son or unborn child at risk.

“Maybe you should be less quick to judge and a bit more mindful of your choice of (offensive) words!

“Fortunately, we were lucky and I can’t thank the Essex Fire Service enough.”

“For people to imply that I would knowingly put them in danger by attempting to drive through four feet of water, is extremely hurtful.

“Had I known what was ahead of me, I would have turned around and gone another way.”